GENERAL NEWS AND HEADLINES

Workers to protest House’s decision on omnibus bill
Liputan6 (https://tinyurl.com/wpwm4ml); Kompas (https://tinyurl.com/v8gsfaz); CNN Indonesia (https://tinyurl.com/wqt2aed)

Chairman Said Iqbal of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) has confirmed that it is planning another demonstration to protest the House of Representatives’ decision to resume deliberating the contentious omnibus bill on job creation. According to Said, the demonstration would be held in April and involve 50,000 workers from Greater Jakarta.

Earlier, several labor unions grouped under the Indonesian Assembly of Workers (MPBI), including the KSPI and the All-Indonesia Workers Union Confederation (KSPSI), had asked the House to halt the deliberation of the job creation omnibus bill not only because of its controversial articles, but also because of its timing during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The MPBI and other labor unions had initially cancelled the planned demonstration in keeping with the government’s call for social distancing, but decided to take to the streets when the House insisted on deliberating the bill. Iqbal said that lawmakers should focus more on protecting the rights of those affected by the virus, especially the millions of workers who were still working without appropriate protection during the outbreak.

 

House urges govt to ban entry to foreign workers
CNN Indonesia (https://tinyurl.com/w5e2j2k)

The House of Representatives has urged the government to take decisive steps to stem the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia, especially against imported cases from abroad.

House Commission IX deputy head Nihayatul Wafiroh said the commission had asked the government to ban foreign workers (TKA) from crossing Indonesian borders during the outbreak by issuing Manpower Ministry regulations to that effect. The House delivered its request during a teleconference with the government on Thursday.

Lawmakers also urged the government to guarantee protection for Indonesian workers and improve the national healthcare system so that patients could receive effective and prompt treatment.

 

China’s Xi offers to help Indonesia with COVID-19
Kompas (https://tinyurl.com/yx3xvrma); Liputan6 (https://tinyurl.com/r6xs35p)

Chinese President Xi Jinping affirmed his country’s readiness to provide assistance to Indonesia for managing its COVID-19 outbreak during a phone call with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Thursday.

Xi conveyed his concern for Indonesia and that China was willing to share its experience in containing the virus, making assurances that China would prioritize support for Indonesia’s COVID-19 response.

Separately, President Jokowi acknowledged that international solidarity and cooperation was a must in fighting the pandemic, underlining that Indonesia was against all forms of stigma and discrimination. He added that Jakarta was ready to work with Beijing in hopes that the cooperation would enhance the countries’ bilateral ties.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS NEWS AND HEADLINES

Labor unions to hold massive protest in Jakarta despite COVID-19 risks
CNN Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/wqt2aed); Kompas, (https://tinyurl.com/v8gsfaz); The Jakarta Post, (https://tinyurl.com/vmfv6h4) 

One of Indonesia’s biggest labor groups, the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), intends to hold a massive protest against the omnibus bill on job creation following the House of Representatives’ decision to start deliberations over the bill during the coronavirus pandemic. KSPI president Said Iqbal said on Friday that the protest would be held in mid-April, involving 50,000 workers throughout Greater Jakarta in front of the legislative complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

“We will protest the bill at any risk. If some parties disagree with our activity, just ask the House. They have triggered millions of Indonesian workers, something that does not need to happen amid the pandemic. We feel threatened. First, there is a threat to our lives because we are still working during the pandemic. Second, there is a threat to our future due to omnibus bill deliberation,” Iqbal said in a statement.

                                                                                                                        

Pertamina increases crude, fuel imports to ensure supply
Kontan, (https://tinyurl.com/vbv6gvx); Kompas, (https://tinyurl.com/rasyp5u) 

State-owned oil and gas company Pertamina has increased crude oil and fuel imports to ensure supply availability. “Crude oil imports are necessary to increase the amount of supply, and imports of oil products will be stored at land and floating storage facilities located in Indonesia,” Pertamina spokeswoman Fajriyah Usman said. She declined to provide details on import amounts.

 

Erick to merge 51 subsidiaries of SOEs
Bisnis Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/quhe9cz); CNN Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/vz4nqyn), (https://tinyurl.com/wwqmpyk) 

State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir plans to merge a total of 51 subsidiaries of state-owned enterprises owned by state oil and gas company Pertamina, national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia and state telecommunications giant PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom). Erick said the merger was necessary to improve the efficiency of Indonesian SOEs and guaranteed that it would not result in mass layoffs. The merger plan involves 25 subsidiaries owned by Pertamina, 20 by Telkom and six by Garuda including PT Garuda Tauberes Indonesia.

 

Suzuki temporarily stops production
The Jakarta Post, (https://tinyurl.com/qn3f3h7) 

Automotive manufacturer PT Suzuki Indomobil Motor is halting its car production in Indonesia for two weeks in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Suzuki Indonesia president director Seiji Itayama said the decision would be in effect from April 13 to 24 at three factories in Cakung in East Jakarta, Cikarang in Bekasi, and Tambun in West Java. PT Honda Prospect Motor is going to halt production for two weeks starting April 13, while PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia is limiting the number of operating personnel and activities.

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